• Specific Year
    Any

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT 1979

Table of Provisions

PART I -- Introductory  

1. Short title   2. Commencement   3. Application of Act off-shore   4. Repeal   6. Objects of Act   7. Terms used

PART II -- The Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission

Division 1 -- Constitution of the Commission  

8. Commission constituted   9. Qualifications for appointment of Chief Commissioner   10. Age limit for commissioners   11. Oath of office and secrecy   12. Commission is court of record etc.   13. Protection of commissioners and others   14. Exercise of powers and jurisdiction of Commission   14A. Dual federal and State appointments   14B. Performance of duties by dual federal and State appointees   15. Constitution of Full Bench and Commission in Court Session   16. Chief Commissioner’s functions   16A. Delegation by Chief Commissioner   17. Appointment of acting commissioners   18. Extending appointments   19. Duty of commissioners   20. Conditions of service of commissioners   21. Resignation from office   22. Tenure subject to good behaviour

Division 2 -- General jurisdiction and powers of the Commission  

22A. Terms used   22B. Commission to act with due speed   23. Jurisdiction of Commission   23A. Unfair dismissal claims, Commission’s powers on   23B. Third party involvement in employment claim, Commission’s powers to prevent etc.   24. Industrial matters, Commission may decide what are   25. Allocation of industrial matters by Chief Commissioner   26. Commission to act according to equity and good conscience   27. Powers of Commission   28. Powers in s. 27 may be exercised at any time after matter lodged   29. Who may refer industrial matters to Commission   29AA. Certain claims not to be determined   29A. Proposed award etc., service of etc.   29B. Parties to proceedings   30. Minister may intervene on behalf of State   31. Representation of parties to proceedings   32. Conciliation and arbitration of industrial matters   32A. Conciliation and arbitration functions of Commission are unlimited   33. Evidence before Commission   34. Decisions of Commission, form of and review of   35. Decision to be first drawn up as minutes   36. Copy of decision must be given to parties and be available for inspection

Division 2A -- Awards  

36A. Non-award employees, interim award for etc.   37. Effect, area of operation and duration of award   37A. Public sector awards and enterprise awards   37B. Private sector awards: general   37C. Private sector awards: limitations on making and varying   37D. Private sector awards: variations of the Commission’s own motion   38. Named parties to awards   39. When award operates   40. Varying and cancelling awards generally   40A. Incorporation of industrial agreement provisions into awards by consent   40B. Power to vary awards to reflect statutory etc. requirements, to promote efficiency and to facilitate implementation

Division 2B -- Industrial agreements  

40C. Terms used   41. Industrial agreements, making, registration and effect of   41A. Which industrial agreements must not be registered under s.   42. Bargaining for industrial agreement, initiating   42A. Response to initiation of bargaining   42B. Bargaining for industrial agreements, good faith required etc.   42C. Code of good faith   42D. Duty of good faith does not require concluded industrial agreement   42E. Commission may assist bargaining   42F. Commission’s power over negotiating parties restricted   42G. Parties may agree to Commission making orders as to terms of agreement   42H. Commission may declare that bargaining has ended   42I. Enterprise order, applying for and making   42J. Enterprise order, effect of   42K. Enterprise order, term of and varying etc.   42L. When bargaining ends   42M. Regulations for this Division   43. Industrial agreement, varying, renewing and cancelling

Division 2C -- Holding of compulsory conferences  

44. Compulsory conference, summoning, holding etc.

Division 2D -- Miscellaneous provisions relating to awards, orders and agreements  

46. Interpretation of awards and orders by Commission   47. Defunct awards etc., cancelling; employers not in business etc., deleting from awards etc.   48. Board of Reference for each award   48A. Awards etc. to provide for dispute resolution   48B. Superannuation, provisions about in awards etc.

Division 2E -- Appeals to the Full Bench  

49. Appeal from Commission’s decision

Division 2F -- Keeping of and access to employment records and pay slips  

49D. Employer’s duties as to employment records   49DA. Employer obligations in relation to pay slips   49E. Access to employment records   49F. Enforcement of this Division

Division 2G -- Right of entry and inspection by authorised representatives  

49G. Terms used   49H. Entry for discussions with employees   49I. Entry to investigate certain breaches   49J. Authorising authorised representatives   49K. No entry to premises used for habitation   49L. Authority must be shown on request   49M. Obstructing etc. rights etc. under this Division etc.   49N. Entry and inspection, provisions in awards etc. as to   49O. Enforcement of this Division

Division 3 -- General Orders  

50. General ORDER s, nature of and making   50A. Rates of pay etc. for MCE Act and awards, annual State Wage order as to   50B. Apprentices, matters relevant to setting rates for in State Wage order   51A. Public sector discipline, General Orders as to   51B. General Order not to set minimum condition set by MCE Act   51BA. Notice of hearing to make General Order   51BB. Right to be heard before General Order made   51BC. Commissioner may deal with certain proceedings   51BD. Awards etc. affected by General Order, publication of   51BE. Publication of order

Division 3AA -- Workers bullied or sexually harassed at work  

51BF. Terms used   51BG. Person conducting a business or undertaking   51BH. Worker   51BI. Worker bullied or sexually harassed at work   51BJ. Stop bullying or sexual harassment application   51BK. Dealing with a stop bullying or sexual harassment application   51BL. Power to dismiss stop bullying or sexual harassment applications involving covert operations   51BM. Commission may make stop bullying or sexual harassment orders   51BN. Contravening stop bullying or sexual harassment order

Division 3A -- MCE Act functions

Subdivision 1 -- Preliminary   51C. Term used: Commission Subdivision 3 -- Casual employees’ loading   51I. Casual employees’ loading, setting for MCE Act s. Subdivision 4 -- Orders under this Division generally   51J. Notice of hearings under this Division   51K. Right to be heard before order made under this Division   51L. Orders under this Division, restrictions on   51M. Publication of orders   51N. Variation and rescission of s. 51I orders

Division 3B -- Equal remuneration  

51O. Equal remuneration orders   51P. Employer not to reduce remuneration   51Q. Alternative remedies   51R. Remuneration-related action

Division 4 -- Industrial organisations and associations  

52. Terms used   52A. Counterpart federal body   53. Organisations of employees, which can be registered   54. Organisations of employers, which can be registered   55. Applications for registration under s. 53 or   56. Rules of organisations to provide for secret ballots etc. at elections   56A. Casual vacancies, rules as to filling   57. Elections by direct voting system to be by secret postal ballot   58. Registering organisations, rules etc.   59. Names of registered organisations, restrictions on   60. Organisation becomes incorporated on registration   61. Effect of registration   62. Altering registered rules   63. Records, organisations’ duties as to etc.   64. Membership register, Registrar may direct rectification of etc.   64A. Resigning from an organisation   64B. Membership ends if subscription not paid   64C. Effect of s. 64A and 64B in relation to organisation’s rules   64D. Purging register, organisation’s rules to provide for   65. Accounts of organisation, audit and filing of   65A. Auditor’s powers   66. Power of Chief Commissioner to deal with rules of organisation   67. Industrial associations, registering   68. Declaration as to certain functions   69. Election, conduct of by Registrar or Electoral Commissioner   70. Offences in relation to elections   71. Rules of State and federal organisations as to membership and offices   71A. State organisation may adopt rules of federal organisation   72. Amalgamated organisations, registration of   72A. Employee organisations, orders as to whom they represent   72B. AMA may represent interests of medical practitioners   73. Cancelling and suspending registration of organisation, procedure for

Division 5 -- Duties of officers of organisations  

74. Finance official’s duties   75. Auditor to report on compliance with s. 74 duties   77. Duty under s. 74, enforcing   78. Failure to comply with s. 77(2)(e) order   79. Proceedings under s. 77, effect on or of other proceedings   80. Disqualification from office for breach of s. 74 duty

PART 2AA -- Employers declared not to be national system employers

Division 1 -- Declarations  

80A. Employers declared not to be national system employers

Division 2 -- Change from federal to State system  

80B. Terms used   80BA. Operation of awards, industrial agreements or orders   80BB. New State instruments   80BC. Amendment of new State instruments   80BD. Ability to carry over matters   80BE. References in new State instruments to federal industrial authority and General Manager   80BF. References in new State instruments to provisions of Commonwealth laws   80BG. References in new State instruments to federal organisations   80BH. Named parties to new State instruments   80BI. Employment under old federal instrument   80BJ. Leave accrued immediately before relevant day   80BK. Leave taken under old federal instrument

PART IIA -- Constituent authorities

Division 2 -- Public service arbitrator and appeal boards  

80C. Terms used and construction and application of Division   80D. Public service arbitrators, appointment of etc.   80E. Jurisdiction of Arbitrator   80F. Who may refer matters to Arbitrator   80G. Part II Div. 2 to 2G, application of   80H. Public Service Appeal Board, members of etc.   80I. Board’s jurisdiction   80J. Institution of appeals under s. 80I   80K. Proceedings of Board   80L. Certain provisions of Part II Div. 2 apply

Division 3 -- Railways Classification Board  

80M. Terms used   80N. Railways Classification Board, members of etc.   80O. Terms of office etc.   80P. Extending appointments   80Q. Validity of acts of Board   80R. Board’s jurisdiction   80S. Who may refer matters to Board   80U. Vacant salaried position, reclassification of   80V. Proceedings of Board   80W. Part II Div. 2 to 2G, application of

PART IIB -- Enquiries  

80ZE. Minister may refer matter to Commission for enquiry

PART IIC -- Arrangements with other industrial authorities  

80ZF. Term used: FW Commission   80ZG. Joint proceedings of Commission and FW Commission   80ZH. Referring matters to FW Commission for determination under this Act   80ZI. Conferences with other industrial authorities   80ZJ. Commission may exercise powers conferred by FW Act or prescribed enactments

PART III -- Enforcement of Act, awards, industrial agreements and orders

Division 1 -- Industrial magistrate’s court  

81. Industrial magistrate’s courts established   81A. Jurisdiction under this Act of industrial magistrate’s court   81AA. Jurisdiction under other Acts of industrial magistrate’s court   81B. Industrial magistrate’s courts, constitution of   81C. Sittings of industrial magistrate’s courts   81CA. Procedure etc. of industrial magistrate’s courts   81CB. Industrial magistrate’s court judgments, enforcement of   81D. Clerks of industrial magistrate’s courts   81E. Representation of parties in industrial magistrate’s court   81F. Industrial magistrate’s court records, access to   81G. Industrial inspectors may assist industrial magistrate’s court

Division 2 -- Enforcement generally  

82. Jurisdiction of Full Bench   82A. Time limit for certain applications   83. Enforcing awards etc.   83A. Underpayment of employee, orders to remedy   83B. Unfair dismissal, enforcing s. 23A order as to   83C. Costs of enforcement orders under s. 83, 83A and 83B   83D. Offences under this Act, jurisdiction as to   83E. Civil penalty provision, proceedings for contravening   83EA. Serious contravention of entitlement provision or civil penalty provision   83EB. Employer to have burden of disproving certain allegations by applicant under s.   83F. Costs and penalties, payment of   84. Appeal from industrial magistrate’s court to Full Bench   84AA. Illegal contracts of employment may be treated as valid   84A. Certain contraventions of Act, enforcement of before Full Bench

Division 3 -- Civil infringement notices  

84B. Terms used   84C. Giving civil infringement notice   84D. Content of civil infringement notice   84E. Amount of civil infringement notice penalty   84F. Time for payment of civil infringement notice penalty   84G. Extension of time to pay civil infringement notice penalty   84H. Withdrawal of civil infringement notice   84I. Effect of payment of civil infringement notice penalty   84J. Refund of civil infringement notice penalty

Division 4 -- Enforceable undertakings  

84K. Terms used   84L. Application of Division   84M. Enforceable undertaking   84N. Enforcement of enforceable undertakings

Division 5 -- Compliance notices  

84O. Terms used   84P. Application of Division   84Q. Giving compliance notice   84R. Relationship with enforceable undertakings   84S. Relationship with proceedings under s.   84T. Person must comply with compliance notice   84U. Review of compliance notices   84V. Withdrawal of compliance notice

PART IV -- Western Australian Industrial Appeal Court  

85. Constitution of Court   86. Jurisdiction of Court   87. Decision of Court   88. Judgments, enforcement of   90. Appeal from Commission to Court   91. Representation before Court   91A. Court’s power to order costs and expenses   92. Contempt, Court’s powers as to

PART V -- The Registrar and other officers of the Commission  

93. Appointment and duties of officers   94. Authority of officers to do acts as directed   95. Deputy registrar’s functions   96. Delegation by Commission to Registrar

PART VIA -- Freedom of association  

96A. Terms used   96B. Awards etc. not to contain certain provisions about membership of organisations   96C. Discrimination because of membership of organisation, offence   96D. Discriminatory etc. acts against persons performing work for employers because of membership or non-membership of employee organisation, offence   96E. Discriminatory etc. acts against persons because of non-membership of employee organisation, offence   96F. Penalties under s. 96C, 96D and 96E, provisions about   96G. Criminal responsibility of officers etc. for offences in s. 96C, 96D and 96E   96H. Criminal responsibility of corporations etc. for offences in s. 96C, 96D and 96E   96I. Evidentiary provisions for s. 96C, 96D and 96E   96J. Court may order compliance with s. 96C, 96D or 96E   96K. Appeal against decision under s. 96J   96L. Other court orders after conviction under s. 96C, 96D or 96E

PART 6B -- Protection of employee rights

Division 1 -- Preliminary  

97. Terms used

Division 2 -- Damaging action  

97A. Damaging action because of inquiry or complaint   97B. Court orders to employers   97C. Court orders to third parties

Division 3 -- Sham contracts for services  

97D. Misrepresenting contract of employment as contract for services   97E. Dismissing to engage under contract for services   97F. False statement to engage under contract for services   97G. Court orders to employers

Division 4 -- Miscellaneous  

97H. Certain advertising prohibited

PART VID -- Employer-employee agreements

Division 1 -- Preliminary  

97U. Terms used

Division 2 -- The making of an EEA  

97UA. Employer and employee may make EEA   97UB. EEA may deal with post-employment matters   97UC. Other provisions about making EEA   97UD. Making of EEA by person with a mental disability   97UE. Effect of EEA   97UF. EEA not to be made while industrial agreement in operation   97UG. Documents etc. to be given to employee before EEA signed   97UH. Application of s. 97UG if draft EEA amended   97UI. EEA information statement, form of (s. 97UG(2)(b))   97UJ. Bargaining agents, appointing etc.   97UK. Prohibited conduct relating to bargaining agents

Division 3 -- Form and content of EEA  

97UL. Form of EEA   97UM. Additional formalities for EEA made with employee under   97UN. EEA must provide for resolution of disputes   97UO. EEA dispute provisions, content of   97UP. Industrial authority may be specified as arbitrator

Division 4 -- Commencement, duration and variation  

97UQ. New employee, when EEA commences   97UR. Existing employee, when EEA commences   97US. Expiry of EEA   97UT. Employment conditions applicable on expiry of EEA   97UU. EEA cannot be varied   97UV. Cancelling EEA   97UW. Termination of employment, effect of on EEA

Division 5 -- Registration of EEAs

Subdivision 1 -- Preliminary   97UX. Delegation by Registrar Subdivision 2 -- Registration   97UY. Lodgment of EEA for registration   97UZ. EEA with new employee, effect of not lodging   97V. Recovery of money if s. 97UZ applies   97VA. Employment conditions of new employee if EEA not lodged   97VB. Registrar to be satisfied EEA is in order for registration   97VC. Registrar’s powers for s. 97VB   97VD. Registrar to notify parties of certain deficiencies in EEA   97VE. Parties may correct deficiencies in EEA   97VF. Registration of EEA   97VG. Refusal of registration of EEA   97VH. When refusal has effect   97VI. EEA for new employee refused registration, effect ceases   97VJ. Recovery of money if s. 97VI applies   97VK. Employment conditions of new employee if registration refused   97VL. Registrar to provide copy of registered EEA Subdivision 3 -- Appeal against refusal of registration   97VM. Appeal against refusal of registration   97VN. Relevant industrial authority to notify parties of certain deficiencies in EEA   97VO. Parties may correct deficiencies in EEA   97VP. Determination of appeal   97VQ. Procedure on appeal

Division 6 -- No-disadvantage test

Subdivision 1 -- Definition   97VR. Terms used   97VS. No-disadvantage test defined   97VT. Determining which award etc. is relevant for s. 97VS   97VU. All entitlements to be considered   97VV. Application of test if Supported Wage System applies Subdivision 2 -- Principles to be followed in application of no-disadvantage test   97VW. Term used: Commission   97VX. Commission to establish principles and guidelines   97VY. Registrar and Commission to give effect to s. 97VX instrument   97VZ. Minister or peak industry body may seek amendment etc. of s. 97VX instrument   97W. Public comment to be sought before s. 97VX instrument amended etc.   97WA. How public comment to be sought

Division 7 -- Register  

97WB. Terms used   97WC. Register of EEAs   97WD. Inspection of register   97WE. Commission may exempt an EEA from inspection   97WF. Protected information not to be disclosed   97WG. Certified copies of EEAs

Division 8 -- Disputes  

97WH. Terms used   97WI. Arbitration jurisdiction of relevant industrial authority   97WJ. Representation of parties   97WK. Alleged delay in dispute resolution, referral of to relevant industrial authority etc.   97WL. Several disputes may be subject of one arbitration   97WM. Arbitrator’s power to obtain information   97WN. Orders and determinations of arbitrators   97WO. Orders and determinations, form of etc.   97WP. Enforcing orders and determinations   97WQ. Industrial magistrate’s court not bound by arbitrator’s interpretation of EEA

Division 9 -- EEAs for persons with mental disabilities

Subdivision 1 -- Preliminary   97WR. Terms used   97WS. Guardianship and Administration Act 1990, relationship of this Division to   97WT. Registrar to notify Public Advocate of applications and orders for approval of representative   97WU. Public Advocate to notify Registrar of relevant guardianship orders Subdivision 2 -- Approval of person to act on behalf of person with a mental disability   97WV. Application for approval   97WW. Requirements for s. 97WV application   97WX. Forms for s. 97WW to be prescribed   97WY. Who may be approved as a representative   97WZ. Approval of representative   97X. Effect of s. 97WZ order   97XA. Refusal of approval   97XB. Appeal against refusal of approval   97XC. Determination of appeal Subdivision 3 -- Functions of representative   97XD. Functions   97XE. Effect of acts of representative   97XF. Duties of representative Subdivision 4 -- Termination of representative’s authority to act   97XG. Duration of order approving representative   97XH. Resignation of representative   97XI. Revocation order, application to SAT for   97XJ. Right to be heard on s. 97XI application   97XK. SAT may make revocation order   97XL. Guardianship and Administration Act 1990, application of for s. 97XK Subdivision 5 -- Approval of new representative   97XM. Application for new approval where representative dies or approval is revoked   97XN. Approval of representative   97XO. Effect of s. 97XN order   97XP. Refusal of approval   97XQ. Appeal against refusal of approval Subdivision 6 -- Miscellaneous   97XR. Registrar’s powers for s. 97WV and 97XM   97XS. EEA not affected by revocation of order or vacancy in position of representative   97XT. Register of s. 97WZ and 97XN orders   97XU. Certified copies of registered entry   97XV. Information obtained under this Division not to be disclosed   97XW. Procedure in proceedings under this Division

Division 10 -- Certain conduct prohibited  

97XX. Purpose of this Division   97XY. Enforcing prohibitions in this Division   97XZ. Making employment etc. conditional on EEA being entered into prohibited   97Y. Certain advertising prohibited   97YA. Exception to s. 97XZ and 97YB   97YB. Employer offering EEA to also offer other employment arrangements   97YC. Order for compliance with s. 97YB   97YD. Threats and intimidation as to EEA prohibited   97YE. Misinformation prohibited   97YF. Dismissal etc. because of refusal to make or cancel EEA prohibited   97YG. Breach of s. 97YF, court orders that may be made for   97YH. Burden of proof in s. 97YF proceedings

Division 11 -- General  

97YI. Review of Div. 5, 6 and   97YJ. Regulations

PART VII -- Miscellaneous  

98. Industrial inspectors, designation and functions of etc.   98A. Information obtained under s. 98 not to be disclosed   99A. Identity cards for industrial inspectors   99B. Production of identity card   99C. Staff for Department   99D. Designation of officers, generally   99. Wage rates in awards not affected by repeal of basic wage provisions   102. Obstruction etc. prohibited   102A. Institution of certain proceedings, powers of Registrar etc. for   103. Certain applications may relate to more than one breach   104. Prosecutions   105. Awards etc., evidence of   106. Official signatures and appointments, judicial notice of   107. No costs to be awarded against Registrar, deputy registrar or industrial inspector   108. Organisations and associations not affected by certain Imperial Acts   109. Dues payable to organisation or association may be sued for   110. Disputes between organisation or association and its members, how to be determined   111. No premiums etc. to be taken for employment   112. Certain rules of organisation as to penalties invalid   112A. Industrial agents, registration of   113. Regulations   114. Contracting out from awards etc. prohibited   115. Police officers, application of Act to (Sch. 3)   116. Transitional provisions for Industrial Relations Amendment Act 2018   117. Savings and transitional provisions for Industrial Relations Legislation Amendment Act 2021

Navigate